Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.Nothing feels as good as freedom from a toxic life.
Guess who’s suddenly in the mood to join #NonfictionNovember?
This was totally unplanned considering I meant to read only holiday-themed romances until… probably January. But browsing Kindle Unlimited’s wide selection, I stumbled upon this absolute gem of a memoir-slash-self-help book.
( I felt like it was the world telling me something. Again. )
Truth be told, I don’t read self-help books. In fact, I pretty much loathe them. I borrowed some from my aunt years ago in an attempt to try, but never bothered to pick them up. They remain untouched, somewhat forgotten, on my shelves to this day. My aversion to them likely stems from the fact that I am, and have always been, one defiant asshole.
Memoirs, however? I adore them, specifically mental health ones.
Emancipated Love Junkie: Liberating Myself From Anorexia by Rachel Wilshusen creatively combines aspects of self-help with her memoir. I was surprised to find that I anticipated each of her quick “Self-Love Gems,” pieces of advice which she sprinkles between relevant chapters and sections of the book. This partially made me realize that maybe, despite being in recovery, I still need a little help in keeping my own eating disorder voice at bay.
Here some snippets of Self-Love Gems I personally found helpful:
Self-Love Gem: Become an Educated Nosher
[…] Remember that calories fuel your body with energy to ensure you maintain ample strength to achieve your goals while showcasing your best self.
Self-Love Gem: Seek Happiness Centered Goals
[…] What meaningful and realistic goals can you set to challenge your demons and increase your happiness? […] Even if it’s something as simple as starting each day with a positive affirmation, pursuing healthy goals can improve your mood and move you forward on your journey towards Recovery and joyful living.
Aside from these precious insights, my favorite thing about this book is the writing style. It really showcased the author’s candid personality: witty, clever, with a great sense of humor. Self-deprecating at times (as people with eating disorders generally are), her intentions felt genuine, and reading about her life almost felt like listening to a friend share her struggles.
( My favorite line is this: Disordered eating is a common behavioral issue; as omnipresent as avocado slices on a hipster street taco menu. )
Her story is, in so many ways, different from what you would see in a many eating disorder memoirs. For one, her age plays a role. She started seeking professional help and went into treatment (outpatient — another unique factor) when she was around 33 years old. She even mentioned in the book that, at the time, she worried she’d be considered a “mom” while in treatment. But she met other patients her age, which was really nice.
Considering most eating disorder stories focus on the person’s adolescent and teen years, I really liked how she emphasized that her anorexic tendencies started in her early teens but followed her to her thirties, proving that the illness isn’t “a phase” and doesn’t just go away as you grow up and turn into a full-blown adult. She was 37 as of writing the book.
Another realistic and somewhat relatable aspect of her story was that, while she always has the compulsion to starve, she still eats, especially when she’s out with people. It’s something not a lot of anorexia stories mention, but it’s realistic for many unrepresented anorexics.
In some parts, she kind of strayed away from the topic of eating disorders, which shows that even people with EDs can have lives outside of the illness. This is all despite the nagging voice that targets our biggest insecurities, and spews out negativity and self-hatred. “Functional anorexics,” is what she calls them.
Compared to most eating disorder memoirs, this was relatively light and surprisingly fun while still remaining honest and relatable. If you’re interested in delving into eating disorder stories but are easily triggered, I definitely recommend this book. While it still shows the ugly side of anorexia, it’s a hopeful, helpful, and very comforting read.
Rating: 4 stars (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Well, this got unintentionally very long. But there was just so many positive things I wanted to say about this book. Whether you are suffering from an eating disorder, are in recovery, have recovered, or are simply interested in knowing more about our lives and the all-consuming voices that control our day-to-day — this book is an insightful and relevant read.
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